Methods, Systems, and Computer-Readable Mediums for Providing Persisting and Continuously Updating Search Folders

ABSTRACT

Providing persisting search folders within a computer that continuously identify data items having metadata matching a query of search criteria. A query of search criteria formulated via a graphical user interface is applied to a search filter to create a search folder. When the search folder is made live, the search filter is used to search one or more data stores for data items having metadata matching the query of search criteria. Upon finding these data items, the search folder is populated with a link to each data item having metadata matching the query of search criteria. The search folder detects when any new data items are added to a data store and when a change occurs to any metadata of data items previously stored in a data store. Upon detection, the search folder store links to matching new or changed data items.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of co-pending U.S. application Ser.No. 10/741,407 entitled “Methods, Systems, and Computer-Readable Mediumsfor Providing Persisting and Continuously Updating Search Folders” filedDec. 19, 2003, which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No.60/484,437 entitled “Combined Outlook Bar and Folder List; AutomaticGrouping; Adaptive Multi-Line View; Threaded View with Easier Access toAll New Email; Search Folders” filed on Jul. 1, 2003, both of which areincorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the field of routing electronicmessages. More particularly the present invention relates to the storageand retrieval of electronic messages through links stored in searchfolders.

BACKGROUND

Among the most useful developments in modern times is the use ofelectronic mail or messages (email) for efficient correspondence aroundthe world. As numerous email items accumulate in the inbox or data storefor a user, attempts are made to sort the items by priority, follow-up,alphabetically, or by filing the emails in folders for future referenceor follow-up. Manually filing emails in folders can be an undesirableand costly activity yielding fruitless results. Frequently emails soughtfor retrieval cannot be found easily or at all because a user may notremember where the email is filed or located.

Previous email applications have the capability to auto-file and searchfor email items meeting user specified search criteria, howeverauto-file rules scatter a user's messages to different folders beforethey have been viewed. Furthermore, the search filters have complicateddialogs and the searches are time consuming and costly when runrepeatedly. This process of sorting, filing, and retrieving emails islabor intensive and time consuming thereby hindering the utility ofexisting email applications. This problem is further complicated by theincapability of email items to exist in more than one folder withoutcopying the item to multiple folders. When email items are copied tomultiple folders and one copy is updated or deleted the other copies arestored in their original form thereby leading to confusion and a wasteof memory.

Accordingly, there is a need for a method, system, and computer-readablemedium for providing persisting and continuously updating search foldersthat allow for efficient, consistent, and user-friendly organization andreorganization of email items. It is with respect to these and otherconsiderations that the present invention has been made.

SUMMARY

Embodiments of the present invention are directed to methods, systems,and computer-readable mediums for providing a persisting search folderwithin a computer that continuously identifies data items that havemetadata matching a query of search criteria. The data items may includeemails, computer program files, electronic journal entries, electronictask lists, meeting requests, appointments, electronic contacts, andelectronic notes. A search folder is created by applying a query ofsearch criteria, selected or formulated via a graphical user interface,to a search filter. Once the search folder has been created, the searchfolder is made live by default or by a user requesting access byclicking on a search folder icon. When the search folder is made live,the search filter is used to populate the search folder by searching onemore data stores for data items having metadata matching the query ofsearch criteria. When these data items are identified, a link to eachdata item having matching metadata is stored in the search folder topopulate the search folder. Links to the same data item may coexist inmultiple search folders as long as the data item has metadata matchingthe queries of search criteria for each search folder.

According to other aspects of the present invention, upon detecting newdata items added to a data store or a change to the metadata of dataitems previously stored in the data store, the search foldercontinuously applies the search filter to the new or changed data items.Upon identifying new or changed data items having metadata matching thequery of search criteria for the search folder, the search folder isupdated by storing links to these data items in the search folder. Also,upon identifying a previously stored data item having changed metadatathat no longer matches the query of search criteria, the search filterremoves the link to these data items from the search folder. Thispersistent application of a search filter allows for a continuous updateto the contents of a live search folder.

According to still other aspects of the present invention when a userrequests access to the search folder, each link stored in the searchfolder is displayed via the graphical user interface. The user may thenselect links from the display by clicking on a link to retrieve the dataitem matching the query of search criteria populating the search folder.Also, each search folder is represented by a search folder icon and asearch folder title in the graphical user interface displayed on thecomputer. When a search folder is made live, the text of the searchfolder title is changed from italic, representing that the search folderis dead, to non-italic representing that the search folder is live.Search folders that are created but remain dead are not populated andare thus, prevented from utilizing computer processor cycles to searchand populate until being made live. Search filters of dead searchfolders are also prevented from being continuously applied to newelectronic messages arriving and previously stored electronic messageshaving changed metadata.

According to another aspect of the present invention, queries of searchcriteria may be ready-made and selected by the user selecting a templatevia a graphical user interface listing templates. Each templaterepresents a query of search criteria for a search folder that may be aready-made query of search criteria or a ready-made query of searchcriteria having specified inputs. In the case of email data items, aspecialized input may be the names of email senders or the memory sizeof an email. It should be appreciated that when multiple specifiedinputs are received in the query of search criteria, the multiplespecified inputs may be queried in an ‘or’ format or an ‘and’ format.Furthermore in the email context, in addition to having a link stored inthe search folder, new emails having metadata matching a query of searchcriteria are also identified and delivered to an inbox of the user. Itshould also be appreciated that a search folder created on one clientcomputer may roam with a profile of the user when the user logs on to adifferent client computer.

According to still other aspects a search may be conducted within thesearch folder. When the search within the search folder is stored as anew search folder, the new search folder contains links to emails havingmetadata matching the search criteria of at least two queries. Thequeries are combined in the new search folder thereby presenting atleast two views of the data store via the new search folder.Additionally, emails may be moved from a current search folder to a hardfolder in the data store. When emails are moved, the search filter stilldetects whether the email continues to have metadata matching the queryof search criteria for the current search folder. In response to theemail continuing to have metadata matching the query of search criteria,the current search folder retains a link to the email. It should also beappreciated that in response to the deletion of a link to an email fromthe search folder, the email and any links to the email are deleted fromthe data store by which the search folder was populated.

These and other features and advantages, which characterize the presentinvention, will be apparent from a reading of the following detaileddescription and a review of the associated drawings. It is to beunderstood that both the foregoing general description and the followingdetailed description are exemplary and explanatory only and are notrestrictive of the invention as claimed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the architecture of a personal orserver computer that provides an illustrative environment for anembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a simplified block diagram showing interaction between a localcomputer and a remote server computer in an embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 3 is a computer screen display showing an illustrative folder treein an email navigation pane including a persisting list of searchfolders available to a user for viewing according to an embodiment ofthe present invention.

FIG. 4 is a computer screen display showing an illustrative userinterface menu for initiating the creation of a search folder accordingto an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a computer screen display showing an illustrative graphicaluser interface for selecting search folder templates that aid in thecreation of search folders according to an embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 6 is a computer screen display showing another view of theillustrative user interface of FIG. 5 for a different user selectingsearch folder templates that aid in the creation of search foldersaccording to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a computer screen display showing an illustrative userinterface for selecting or inputting one or more names, email addresses,or distribution lists in a ‘Mail from specific people and lists’ searchfilter according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a computer screen display showing illustrative user interfacefor selecting or inputting one or more names, email addresses, ordistribution lists in a ‘Mail sent to a distribution list or person’search folder according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 9A-9B are computer screen displays showing illustrative userinterfaces for creating a ‘Large mail messages’ search folder accordingto an embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 10A-10B are computer screen displays showing illustrative userinterfaces for creating an ‘Old mail messages’ search folder accordingto an embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 11A-11B are computer screen displays showing illustrative userinterfaces for creating a ‘Mail with specific words’ search folderaccording to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 12A-12D are computer screen displays showing illustrative userinterfaces for creating a custom search folder according to anembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a computer screen display showing an illustrative userinterface menu for manipulating the contents of smart folders accordingto an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a computer screen display showing the illustrative userinterface of FIG. 12B modified for changing a search folder according toan embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 15A-15B are computer screen displays showing illustrative userinterfaces for creating search folders from ‘Find’ and/or ‘AdvancedFind’ search results according to an embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 16 is an operational flow diagram illustrating a routine forcreating and updating search folders according to an embodiment of thepresent invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

As described briefly above, embodiments of the present invention aredirected to methods, systems, and computer-readable mediums forproviding persisting and continuously updating search folders. Searchfolders are also referred to as smart or virtual folders. In thefollowing detailed description, references are made to the accompanyingdrawings that form a part hereof, and in which are shown by way ofillustrations, specific embodiments or examples. These embodiments maybe combined, other embodiments may be utilized, and structural changesmay be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the presentinvention. The following detailed description is, therefore, not to betaken in a limiting sense and a scope of the present invention isdefined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

Referring now to the drawings in which like numerals represent likeelements throughout the several figures, aspects of the presentinvention and the exemplary operating environment will be described.FIG. 1 and the following discussion are intended to provide a brief,general description of a suitable computing environment in which theinvention may be implemented. While the invention will be described inthe general context of an application program that runs on an operatingsystem in conjunction with a personal computer, those skilled in the artwill recognize that the invention also may be implemented in combinationwith other program modules. Generally, program modules include routines,programs, components, data structures, etc. that perform particulartasks or implement particular abstract data types. Moreover, thoseskilled in the art will appreciate that the invention may be practicedwith other computer system configurations, including hand-held devices,multiprocessor systems, microprocessor-based or programmable consumerelectronics, cell phones, minicomputers, mainframe computers, and thelike. The invention may also be practiced in distributed computingenvironments where tasks are performed by remote processing devices thatare linked through a communications network. In a distributed computingenvironment, program modules may be located in both local and remotememory storage devices.

With reference to FIG. 1, an exemplary system for implementing theinvention includes a conventional personal or client computer 20,including a processing unit 21, a system memory 22, and a system bus 23that couples the system memory to the processing unit 21. The systemmemory 22 includes read-only memory (ROM) 24 and random access memory(RAM) 25. A basic input/output system 26 (BIOS), containing the basicroutines that help to transfer information between elements within thepersonal computer 20, such as during start-up, is stored in ROM 24. Thepersonal computer 20 further includes data stores such as a hard disk27, a magnetic disk drive 28, e.g., to read from or write to a removabledisk 29, and an optical disk drive 30, e.g., for reading a CD-ROM disk31 or to read from or write to other optical media. The hard disk 27,magnetic disk drive 28, and optical disk drive 30 are connected to thesystem bus 23 by a hard disk drive interface 32, a magnetic disk driveinterface 33, and an optical drive interface 34, respectively. Thedrives and their associated computer-readable media provide non-volatilestorage for the personal computer 20. Although the description ofcomputer-readable media above refers to a hard disk, a removablemagnetic disk and a CD-ROM disk, it should be appreciated by thoseskilled in the art that other types of media which are readable by acomputer, such as magnetic cassettes, flash memory cards, digital videodisks, Bernoulli cartridges, and the like, may also be used in theexemplary operating environment.

By way of example, and not limitation, computer-readable media maycomprise computer-storage media and communication media. Computerstorage media includes volatile and non-volatile, removable andnon-removable media implemented in any method or technology for storageof information such as computer-readable instructions, data structures,program modules or other data. Computer storage media includes, but isnot limited to, RAM, ROM, EPROM, EEPROM, flash memory or other solidstate memory technology, CD-ROM, DVD, or other optical storage, magneticcassettes, magnetic tape, magnetic disk storage or other magneticstorage devices, or any other medium which can be used to store thedesired information and which can be accessed by the computer.

Communication media typically embodies computer-readable instructions,data structures, program modules or other data in a modulated datasignal such as carrier wave or other transport mechanism and includesany information delivery media. The term “modulated data signal” means asignal that has one or more of its characteristics set or changed insuch a manner as to encode information in the signal. By way of example,and not limitation, communication media includes wired media such as awired network or direct-wired connection, and wireless media such asacoustic, RF, infrared, and other wireless media. Combinations of any ofthe above should also be included within the scope of computer-readablemedia. Computer-readable media may also be referred to as computerprogram product.

A number of program modules may be stored in the drives and RAM 25,including an operating system 35, one or more application programs 100,such as an electronic messaging application program, a web browserapplication program module 37, such as INTERNET EXPLORER from MICROSOFTCORPORATION of Redmond, Wash., (or other type of program module),application program data 107, such as stored emails, and other programmodules (not shown).

A user may enter commands and information into the personal computer 20through a keyboard 40 and pointing device, such as a mouse 42. Otherinput devices (not shown) may include a microphone, joystick, game pad,satellite dish, scanner, or the like. These and other input devices areoften connected to the processing unit 21 through a serial portinterface 46 that is coupled to the system bus, but may be connected byother interfaces, such as a game port or a universal serial bus (USB). Amonitor 47 or other type of display device is also connected to thesystem bus 23 via an interface, such as a video adapter 48. In additionto the monitor, personal computers typically include other peripheraloutput devices (not shown), such as speakers or printers.

The personal computer 20 may operate in a networked environment usinglogical connections to one or more remote computers, such as a remotecomputer 49. The remote computer 49 may be a server, a router, a peerdevice or other common network node, and typically includes many or allof the elements described relative to the personal computer 20, althoughonly a memory storage device 50 has been illustrated in FIG. 1. Thelogical connections depicted in FIG. 1 include a local area network(LAN) 51 and a wide area network (WAN) 52. Such networking environmentsare commonplace in offices, enterprise-wide computer networks, intranetsand the Internet.

When used in a LAN networking environment, the personal computer 20 isconnected to the LAN 51 through a network interface 53. When used in aWAN networking environment, the personal computer 20 typically includesa modem 54 or other means for establishing communications over the WAN52, such as the Internet. The modem 54, which may be internal orexternal, is connected to the system bus 23 via the serial portinterface 46. In a networked environment, program modules and datadepicted relative to the personal computer 20, or portions thereof, maybe stored in the remote memory storage device 50. It will be appreciatedthat the network connections shown are exemplary and other means ofestablishing a communications link between the computers may be used.

FIG. 2 is a simplified block diagram showing interaction between a localclient computer 20 and a remote server computer 49 in an embodiment ofthe present invention. The messaging application program 100, such asMICROSOFT OUTLOOK from MICROSOFT CORPORATION of Redmond, Wash. and themessaging server application program 102 such as MICROSOFT EXCHANGE fromMICROSOFT CORPORATION of Redmond, Wash., are computer softwareapplications having sufficient computer executable instructions forsupporting email messaging activity and for providing, populating, andupdating search folders. According to an embodiment of the presentinvention, the search folders 203 may be created and stored on theclient computer 20 and/or on the server computer 49. The search folders203 are virtual messaging application program interface (MAPI) foldersthat contain links to all data items that meet or match a specific queryof search criteria with a data store 105 and/or a data store 107. Thedata store 105 contains a cached version of data items stored in thedata store 107 and associated with a user of the client computer 20,such as in MICROSOFT OUTLOOK offline files and offline personal foldersfrom MICROSOFT CORPORATION of Redmond, Wash. Thus, search folders mayaccess either or both data stores 105 and 107 to conduct populatingqueries.

For example, in an offline scenario a search folder 203A may be createdon the client computer 20. In response to a user seeking access to thesearch folder 203A, a search filter will automatically populate thesearch folder 203A by sorting the data items in the local data store105. The data items, such as emails, are sorted based on contents ormetadata found in one or more of the data item fields. Links to the dataitems matching the query of search criteria applied to the search filterfor the search folder 203A will populate the search folder 203A.Additionally, the search filter continues to filter links to any new orchanged data items matching the search criteria into the search folder203A.

Alternatively, in an online scenario, the same search folder 203A may becreated on the remote server computer 49. When a user requests access tothe search folder 203A via the client computer 20, a search filter forsearch folder 203A sorts the data items stored in the data store 107that are associated with the user. Links to the data items matching thesearch query automatically populate the search folder 203A. Although theuser interfaces with the search folder 203A from the client computer 20,the searching and updating takes place on the remote server computer 49.

FIG. 3 is a computer screen display 300 (hereinafter display 300)showing an illustrative folder tree in an email navigation paneincluding a list of search folders available to a user for viewingaccording to an embodiment of the present invention. A user may view andnavigate through a current search folder inventory from the display 300.A section for favorite or frequently accessed folders may include searchfolders. For instance, both an ‘Unread or For Follow Up’ search folder302, containing links to emails marked as unread or marked for followup, and a ‘For Follow Up’ search folder 304 are displayed in the‘Favorite Folders’ section of the display 300 and in the ‘All MailFolders’ section of the display 300.

As shown in FIG. 3, each search folder has a distinctive icon and atitle that identifies the type, contents, and status of the folder. Forinstance, the ‘For Follow up’ search folder 304, containing links toemails marked for follow up, has the distinctive search folder icon andthe title is in a bold non-italic text indicating that the folder islive and populated with links to emails of the user marked for followup. The number nine (9) next to the title may indicate the number ofunread links in the search folder 304 or the number of links stored inthe search folder 304. A main search folder listing 306 is availableinside the folder tree of a mailbox 305 belonging to a user. Opening themain search folder listing 306, gives a user access to a list of all thesearch folders created in the user's email profile. It should beappreciated that the search folders listed in a user's profile roam withthe user when the user logs on to a different client computer.

Search folders with italic titles, such as the ‘Unread Mail’ searchfolder 308, are created but inactive or dead because a user has notrequested access to view the contents of the search folder. A createdsearch folder is made live by a request for access to its contents byclicking on the icon. After the search folder is made live the folder ispopulated and the title text is changed to non-italic text, in this casebold. Bold text may indicate that there are unread contents in thesearch folder or that there are contents in the search folder. Whenlinks to new or changed data items arrive at the search folder thedistinctive search folder icon animates and the quantity of unread dataitems or data items in the folder increments as notification to theuser.

FIG. 4 is a computer screen display 400 showing an illustrative userinterface menu for initiating the creation of a search folder accordingto an embodiment of the present invention. A user can create a searchfolder by selecting the menu commands File, New 402, and search folder404. In the alternative, a search folder may be created by saving an‘Advanced Find’ as a search folder or from a context menu on an existingsearch folder. Additional details regarding the creation of searchfolders will be described below with respect to FIGS. 14A and 15A-B.

FIG. 5 is a computer screen display showing an illustrative graphicaluser interface 500 for selecting search folder templates that aid in thecreation of search folders according to an embodiment of the presentinvention. The user interface 500 is displayed in response to a usermaking a request to create a search folder as described in FIG. 4.Instead of displaying a complicated search filter to the user, a set ofeasy, ready-made templates are displayed to help the user set up searchfolders for the most common data items (emails) a user may want to view.The search folder templates may be sorted within the user interface 500by category. One category may be a ‘Reading Mail’ category 502 thatincludes search folders for emails especially marked for reading,importance, or follow up. For instance, when the ‘Unread Mail’ template518 is selected by a user the messaging application creates a searchfolder with a search filter that may query the data stores 105/55 foremails marked as unread and store links the those emails in the searchfolder 308. The search folder 308 is where all unread emails may beviewed in one place.

Similarly, when the ‘For Follow Up’ template 524 is selected, themessaging application 100/102 creates a search folder 304 that storeslinks to emails marked for follow up. Additionally, a ‘Mail eitherunread or flagged for follow up’ template 526 may be selected. Thistemplate combines the templates 518 and 524 in an ‘OR’ query to storeboth links to emails marked for follow up and links to emails marked asunread in the search folder 302. Other reading mail templates include an‘Important mail’ template 520 that creates a place to view all emailssent to the user and marked as important.

Another category may include a ‘Mail from People and Lists’ category 502which includes templates that aid in the creation of search folders thatquery emails to and/or from specifically named people, email addresses,and/or distribution lists. The templates listed in this category mayrequire additional information besides just selecting the template. Forinstance, the ‘Mail from or to specific people’ template 515, also knownas the ‘Conversations with specific people’ template 515, requires aninput of the names or email addresses of the one or more people desiredin the conversation. The template 515 is highlighted in FIG. 5 as anindication of being selected. The ‘Choose’ button 513, the edit box 511and the static text above the edit box 511 are shown or hidden dependingon the selected template. The static text above the edit box 511 isdifferent for every template. The ‘Choose’ button 513 is the same forall templates but retrieve varied dialog screens for each template.

Referring back to template 515, when the ‘Choose’ button 513 is selectedto input or change the necessary information that formulates the querythat will eventually appear in the edit box 511, another user interfaceis presented to the user. Template 515 combines the ‘Mail from specificpeople’ template 514, and the ‘Mail sent to distribution lists’ template522 in an ‘OR’ query. Turning now to FIG. 7 a computer screen displayshowing an illustrative user interface 700 for selecting or inputtingone or more names, email addresses, or distribution lists in a ‘Mailfrom specific people and lists’ search filter according to an embodimentof the present invention will be described. The user interface 700 ispresented in response to selecting the ‘Choose’ button 513 afterselecting templates 515 or 514. The user may then select or input names,email addresses, and/or distribution lists in the name box 701. Once aname, address, or list has been selected it is placed in the sender box704 by clicking the ‘From’ button 702. After the sender box 704 has beenpopulated, the ‘OK’ button 705 may be selected to return to templates514 or 515 in FIG. 5 where the edit box 511 is filled in with theselected names, email address, and distribution lists. When more thanone name is selected the names are ‘OR’ed together in the query andlisted in the edit box 511. Additionally, when a distribution list isselected the individual email addresses of the list are placed in thequery and listed in the edit box 511.

Turning now to FIG. 8 a computer screen display showing an illustrativeuser interface for selecting or inputting one or more names, emailaddresses, or distribution lists in a ‘Mail sent to a distribution listor person’ search folder according to an embodiment of the presentinvention will be described. The user interface 800 is presented inresponse to selecting the ‘Choose’ button 513 after selecting templates515 or 522. Template 522 creates a query for a search folder links toemails to a specific person, email address, or distribution list. Oncethe user interface 800 is presented, the user may then select or inputnames, email addresses, and/or distribution lists in the name box 804.Once a name, address, or list has been selected it is placed in thesender box 808 by clicking the ‘To’ button 807. After the sender box 808has been populated, the ‘OK’ button 809 may be selected to return totemplates 522 or 515 in FIG. 5 where the search criteria edit box 511 isfilled in with the selected names, email address, and distributionlists. When more than one name, address, or list is selected they are‘OR’ed together in the query and listed in the search criteria edit box511.

The ‘Mail sent directly to me’ template 516 creates a search folder toview all email sent directly to the email address of the user. Thesearch filter for template 516 queries all the emails to sort data itemswhere the user's name or email address is in a ‘TO’ or copy ‘CC’ field.Because no additional information is required for the template 516query, the ‘OK’ button 512 is automatically enabled for template 516.The ‘OK’ button 512 may be grayed out until a template is selected andthe necessary information has been filled out. In some templates, suchas templates 516, 518, 524, 526, and 520, no extra information isnecessary and the ‘OK’ button 512 is enabled once the template isselected. Once the ‘OK’ button 512 is selected, a search folder iscreated based on the selected template criteria. It should beappreciated that the given titles of the search folders remain bydefault, however, as will be described below with respect to FIG. 13, auser may change or rename a title of a search folder.

A customized search folder may be created by selecting the ‘CustomizeSearch Folder’ link 508, shown in FIG. 5, which returns a user interfacedialog that aids the user in formulating custom search query criteria.Additional information regarding custom search folders is describedbelow with respect to FIGS. 12A-12D. The ‘Search mail in’ dropdown 510contains a list of the user's folder stores and has a default setting.The setting for dropdown 510 determines the folders that will be queriedto populate the search folder created. Referring back to FIG. 3, itshould be appreciated that for functionality purposes the ‘Drafts’ 312,‘Outbox’ 314, ‘Sent Items’ 316, and ‘Deleted Items’ 310 folders,although part of the mailbox 305, may be excluded from a query whenappropriate. However in some cases, for example with templates 515 and522, the ‘Sent Items’ folder 316 may be included in the query.

FIG. 6 is a computer screen display showing another view of theillustrative user interface of FIG. 5 for a different user selectingsearch folder templates that aid in the creation of search foldersaccording to an embodiment of the present invention. As described abovewith respect to FIG. 5, a list of ready-made templates is presented tothe user for selection. Other available ready-made templates include: a‘Large mail messages’ template 610, an ‘Old mail messages’ templates612, a ‘Mail with attachments’ template 614, a ‘Mail with specificwords’ template 616, and a ‘Mail received this week’ template 620. Theuser interface 600 operates in the same manner as the user interface 500described above.

Turning now to FIGS. 9A-9B, computer screen displays showingillustrative user interfaces for creating a ‘Large mail messages’ searchfolder according to an embodiment of the present invention will bedescribed. The template 610 creates a search folder to view all emailmessages in the selected data store box 928 that are larger than thesize specified in the criteria edit box 925. The user interface 600converts to the user interface 900, shown in FIG. 9A, upon selection ofthe template 610. A default value for the size of the messages to sortin the query is displayed in the criteria edit box 925. Thus, the ‘OK’button 929 is enabled upon selection of the template 610. When the userwants to change the default size, the ‘Choose’ button 927 is selected.

In response to selecting the ‘Choose’ button 927, the user interface 904(shown if FIG. 9B) is displayed to the user. The interface 904 shows thevalue of memory size selected for the search criteria in the size entrybox 907. After the size has been input, the user may select the ‘OK’button 908, to return to the interface 900 where the edit criteria box925 changes to reflect the size selected in the interface 904.

Returning to FIG. 6, in response to the selection of the ‘Old mail’template 612, the descriptive text below the template selection box 602changes according to the template selected. Turning now to FIGS.10A-10B, computer screen displays showing illustrative user interfacesfor creating an ‘Old mail’ search folder according to an embodiment ofthe present invention will be described. The template 612 creates asearch folder to view all email messages in the selected data store 1028that are older than the range of time specified in the criteria edit box1025. The user interface 600 converts to the user interface 1000, shownin FIG. 10A, upon selection of the template 612. In order to specify therange of time, the ‘Choose’ button 1027 is selected.

In response to selecting the ‘Choose’ button 1027, the user interface1002 (shown if FIG. 10B) is displayed to the user. The interface 1002receives inputs for the range of time selected for the search criteriain the quantity entry box 1003 and the time entry dropdown 1004. Thetime entry dropdown 1004 may include: ‘at least X days old’, at least Xmonths old, and ‘at least X week(s) old, where X is the value entered inthe quantity entry box 1003. After the range of time has been input, theuser may select the ‘OK’ button 1008, to return to the interface 1000where the edit criteria box 1025 changes to reflect the range of timeselected in the user interface 1002. The ‘OK’ button 1029 may then beselected to create the ‘Old mail’ search folder.

Returning to FIG. 6, the ‘Mail with attachments’ template 614 aids inthe creation of a search folder where email messages in the selecteddata store having attachments may be accessed. Also the ‘Mail receivedthe same week’ template 620 aids in the creation of a search folderwhere emails in the selected or default data store and received in thecurrent week may be accessed. Because no additional information isrequired for the templates 614 and 620, the ‘OK’ button 629 is enabled,upon selecting these templates.

In response to the selection of the ‘Mail with specific words’ template616, the descriptive text below the template selection box 602 changesaccording to the template selected. Turning now to FIGS. 11A-11B,computer screen displays showing illustrative user interfaces forcreating a ‘Mail with specific words’ search folder according to anembodiment of the present invention will be described. The template 616creates a search folder to view all email messages in the selected datastore 628 that have the specified words displayed the criteria edit box1125 as metadata in the body or subject fields of the email. The userinterface 600 converts to the user interface 1100, shown in FIG. 11A,upon selection of the template 616. In order to specify the searchcriteria words, the ‘Choose’ button 1127 is selected.

In response to selecting the ‘Choose’ button 1127, the user interface1101 (shown if FIG. 11B) is displayed to the user. The interface 1101receives input for the specific words or phrases selected for the searchcriteria in the add entry box 1105. Once an input has been entered, the‘Add’ button 1108 is selected to add the entered words to the searchlist area 1107. Once added to the search list area 1107, words orphrases may be removed by highlighting the words or phrases andselecting the ‘Remove’ button 1112. Once a desired search list has beenadded to the search list area 1107, the user may select the ‘OK’ button1110, to return to the interface 1100 where the edit criteria box 1125changes to reflect the words or phrases selected in the user interface1101. When more than one word or phrase is entered, they are ‘OR’edtogether in the query. The ‘OK’ button 1129 may then be selected tocreate a ‘Mail with specific words’ search folder.

As described briefly above with respect to FIG. 5, a customized searchfolder may be created by selecting the ‘Customize Search Folder’ link508 or the template 618 of FIG. 6 which returns a user interface dialogthat aids the user in formulating custom search query criteria. When thetemplate 618 is selected the ‘Custom Search Folder’ dialog shown inFIGS. 12A-12D becomes accessible. FIGS. 12A-12D are computer screendisplays showing illustrative user interfaces for creating custom searchfolders according to an embodiment of the present invention. The userinterface 600 becomes the user interface 1200 upon selecting thetemplate 618. Upon selecting the choose button 1205, the user interface1201 appears.

The ‘Custom Search Folder’ user interface 1201 shown in FIG. 12B isutilized to formulate custom queries to populate custom search folders.The ‘Name edit’ box 1207 is operative to receive an input naming thecustom search folder. When the user selects the ‘Browse’ button 1210, a‘Folder selection’ user interface 1203, shown in FIG. 12C, is presented.The user interface 1203 facilitates the choice of data store folders toinclude in the query of search criteria displayed in the ‘Folderselection’ box 1211 shown in FIG. 12B. As shown in the ‘Folderselection’ box 1211, the selected folder chosen in the interface 1203 auser's folder 1214. It should be appreciated that folders without thedistinctive search folder icon are ‘hard’ folders that contain theactual emails or copies of emails and not simply a link to the actualemail as is the case for search folders.

When the user selects the ‘Criteria’ button 1208, shown in FIG. 12B, the‘Search folder criteria’ user interface 1222, shown if FIG. 12D, ispresented to allow the user to formulate the criteria for the customsearch folder. The user may select and input various criteria for thecustom search folder including specific search words in a particularfield of the email as illustrated with dropdowns 1224 and 1226. Customqueries may also include names, email addresses, and distribution listsqueried in the ‘From’ and ‘To’ fields of the emails as illustrated bythe ‘From’ input 1228 and the ‘Sent To’ input 1230. The user may alsoinclude specifies concerning where and how their name is located in thequeried emails, as illustrate by check box 1231. After entering thecriteria, the user may select the ‘OK’ button 1232 to return to the‘Custom Search folder’ interface 1201 shown in FIG. 12B. Once the userspecifies a name for the custom folder and the criteria, a click of the‘OK’ button 1212 returns the user to the ‘New Search Folder’ userinterface 600 shown in FIG. 6. When the user selects or clicks the ‘OK’button 612 in the custom folder dialog, the custom search folder iscreated and added to the list of search folders described with respectto FIG. 3.

FIG. 13 is a computer screen display showing an illustrative userinterface context menu 1300 for manipulating the context of smartfolders according to an embodiment of the present invention. When a userright-clicks on a search folder, the user interface context menu 1300 isdisplayed. As shown in the menu, the current name of the search folderis ‘Unread/FFu’. By selecting the ‘delete’ menu function 1303, a usermay delete the search folder. When a search folder is deleted, theunderlying or source emails are not deleted, just the search folder. Inthe alternative, a search folder may be dragged to the deleted itemsfolder to permanently delete the search folder.

Additionally, by selecting ‘Rename’ menu function 1305, a user mayrename a search folder. Each search folder 203 may have a unique nameper data store on which the search folder queries. Upon selection of themenu function 1305 and edit box is displayed so the user may type in anew name. A user may also initiate the creation of a new search folderfrom the context of an existing search folder by selecting the ‘NewSearch Folder’ menu function 1307. This opens the ‘new Search Folder’user interface 600 described above with respect to FIG. 6 to allow theuse to create a new search folder. Further a user may change the searchcriteria of a search folder by selecting the ‘Customize this SearchFolder’ menu function 1301. Choosing this context menu option renders a‘Custom Search Folder’ user interface 1402 described below with respectto FIG. 14.

FIG. 14 is a computer screen display showing the illustrative userinterface 1402 of FIG. 12B modified for changing a search folderaccording to an embodiment of the present invention. The ‘Custom SearchFolder’ user interface 1402 is the same interface used to create acustom search folder and is rendered even when the search folder wasoriginally created using a template. Operation of the user interface1402 for changing search criteria and the name of the search folder isdescribed above with respect to FIGS. 12B-12D.

FIGS. 15A-15B are computer screen displays showing illustrative userinterfaces for creating search folders from ‘Find’ and/or ‘AdvancedFind’ search results according to an embodiment of the presentinvention. Another way of creating a search folder is for a user toconduct a search using a ‘Find’ or ‘Advanced Find’ functionality andthen save the search as a persisting search in the form of a searchfolder. Menu functions are made available from both the ‘Find’ strip1500, shown in FIG. 15A, and the ‘Advanced Find’ menu (not shown). A‘Save Search as Search Folder’ menu function 1502, when selected, willrender the user interface 1507 shown in FIG. 15B. The user will type aname in the ‘Name’ box 1508 to enable the ‘OK’ Button 1510. When theuser clicks the ‘OK’ button 1510, a persisting and continuously updatingsearch folder is created with the search criteria set by the user in the‘Find’ or ‘Advanced Find’ search. The default data store folders areapplied to this new search folder until changed.

The logical operations of the various embodiments of the presentinvention are implemented (1) as a sequence of computer implemented actsor program modules running on a computing system and/or (2) asinterconnected machine logic circuits or circuit modules within thecomputing system. The implementation is a matter of choice dependent onthe performance requirements of the computing system implementing theinvention. Accordingly, the logical operations making up the embodimentsof the present invention described herein are referred to variously asoperations, structural devices, acts or modules. It will be recognizedby one skilled in the art that these operations, structural devices,acts and modules may be implemented in software, in firmware, in specialpurpose digital logic, and any combination thereof without deviatingfrom the spirit and scope of the present invention as recited within theclaims attached hereto.

FIG. 16 is an operational flow diagram illustrating a routine forcreating and updating search folders according to an embodiment of thepresent invention. The routine 1600 begins at start operation 1602 andproceeds to operation 1604 where a request to create, revise, or makelive a search folder is received. For example, a user of an electronicmessaging application may select File/New/Search Folder, may click on adead search folder, or may right click on an existing search folder torevise the search folder as described in FIG. 13. The routine 1600 thencontinues to operation 1605 where a determination is made to whether adead search folder is being made live. If a dead search folder is beingmade live, the routine 1600 continues from operation 1605 to operation1610 described below. If at operation 1605, a dead search folder is notbeing made live, the routine 1600 continues to operation 1606.

At operation 1606 a template graphical interface 500 or 600 is displayedto the user. The template graphical interface presents ready-made andcustom queries of search criteria to the user for selection. The routine1600 then continues to operation 1608 where a selection of searchcriteria is received via the graphical interface. Once a selection ofsearch criteria is received, the routine 1600 continues to operation1610 where the selection of search criteria is applied to a searchfilter to create, revise, or make live a search folder.

Next, the routine 1600 asynchronously continues to operations 1620,1616, and 1614. At operation 1616, search filters are used to search adata store for data items, such as emails, that have metadata matchingthe selection of search criteria for the live search folder. The routine1600 then proceeds to operation 1618.

At operation 1618, search folders that have been made live are populatedwith links to data items matching the query of search criteria appliedto the search folder's search filter. Links to the same data item mayexist concurrently in more than one search folder when the data itemmatches the search criteria for the multiple search folders. Forexample, an email that is marked as unread and marked as important willhave a link stored in the ‘unread mail’ search folder and the ‘importantmail’ search folder. Next, the routine 1600 continues to operation 1619where the folder tree display 300 is displayed and updated to reflectnew, revised, or live search folder changes. The routine 1600 thenreturns control to other operations at return operation 1630.

At operation 1620 the routine 1600 detects whether any new data items ordata items having change metadata have been added to the data store. Ifthere are no new or changed data items the routine 1600 branches back tooperation 1620. When new or changed data items are added to the datastore, the routine 1600 continues to operation 1622. In the case ofemail data items, operation 1622 delivers new emails to an inbox ordesignated hard folder of the user. The routine 1600 then proceeds tooperation 1624.

At operation 1626, new or changed data items are evaluated and used toupdate live search folders by storing links to new or changed data itemsthat match the query of search criteria for the live search folder. Itshould also be appreciated that at operation 1626, links to changed dataitems that no longer match the query of search criteria for a searchfolder are removed from the search folder. For example, an email thatwas delivered more than a week ago will have changed metadata and willbe automatically removed from the ‘mail received this week’ searchfolder upon becoming more than one week old. Next the routine 1600continues to operation 1628.

At operation 1628, notification of a new or changed data item link beingadded or removed from a search folder is given. Notification may be inthe form of an animated search folder icon, an incrementing ordecrementing count of total or unread links contained in the folder, ora sound that notifies a user of delivery. The routine 1600 thencontinues to operation 1619 described above.

At operation 1614, a determination is made as to whether a request tocreate a new search folder, revise an existing search folder, or makelive a dead search folder has been made. Request may be made in theforms described above with regard to operation 1604. If a request hasbeen made, the routine 1600 returns to operation 1604 described above.If such request has not been made, the routine 1600 loops back tooperation 1614.

Thus, the present invention is presently embodied as a method, system,and computer-readable medium encoding a computer program for providingpersisting and continuously updating search folders.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that variousmodifications or variations may be made in the present invention withoutdeparting from the scope or spirit of the invention. Other embodimentsof the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art fromconsideration of the specification and practice of the inventiondisclosed herein.

1.-31. (canceled)
 32. A method of providing a virtual folder within atleast one computer, the method comprising: continuously identifying dataitems in a datastore that satisfy a first query; providing a firstvirtual folder, the virtual folder comprising a collection of links tothe data items that satisfy the first query; continuously identifyingdata items in a datastore that satisfy a second query; providing asecond virtual folder comprising a collection of links to the data itemsthat satisfy the second query wherein at least one link in the secondvirtual folder refers to a data item that is also referred to by a linkin the first virtual folder; and storing a modified version of the dataitem referred to by a link.
 33. The method of claim 32 furthercomprising updating the collection of at least one link to include a newdata item and its associated link, the new data item being placed in thedatastore that satisfies the query of search criteria.
 34. The method ofclaim 32 wherein modifying the at least one of the identified data itemsincludes deleting the at least one of the data items from the datastore,and in response to deleting the at least one of the data items, themethod further comprising updating at least one of the collection oflinks that contain the at least one of the data items to remove the linkto the deleted at least one of the data items.
 35. The method of claim32 further comprising providing a MAPI interface to the virtual folder.36. The method of claim 32 further comprising displaying to the user thecollection of at least one links as a list of datastore items.
 37. Themethod of claim 32 wherein the data items contain at least one emailhaving a body and subject wherein identifying includes matching thesearch criteria with a specific word in the body or the subject of theemail.
 38. The method of claim 32 further comprising deleting thecollection of at least one link; and not deleting the data itemsreferenced by the one or more links.
 39. A computer-readable mediumwhich stores a set of instructions which when executed performs a methodfor saving search criteria from an email search, the method executed bythe set of instructions comprising: receiving a query specifyingmetadata search parameters; associating the query with a first virtualfolder; continuously updating the first virtual folder to store links todata items that currently satisfy the search criteria; and modifying atleast one of the data items that satisfy the search criteria via thelinks in the virtual folder.
 40. The computer-readable medium of claim39 wherein receiving the query includes receiving a find operation. 41.The computer-readable medium of claim 39 further comprising creating thefirst virtual folder as a MAPI folder.
 42. The computer-readable mediumof claim 39 further comprising populating a second virtual folder withat least one link that references the data item in the datastore; 43.The computer-readable medium of claim 42 further comprising deleting thesecond virtual folder and the links contained therein; and maintainingthe data items referenced by the links in the first virtual folder. 44.The computer-readable medium of claim 39 wherein the steps of receiving,saving and modifying occur on a remote computer, and the method furthercomprising sending the query of search criteria from a local computer.45. A system for searching a datastore, the system comprising: a memorystorage; and a processing unit coupled to the memory storage, whereinthe processing unit is operative to: provide a first user interfaceelement capable of being continuously updated to display a search folderwhich contains links to data items in a datastore that satisfy at leastone search criterion, provide a second user interface element capable ofdisplaying a search criteria which controls the search criteria for thesearch folder, and provide a third user interface element capable ofinstructing a datastore to modify a data item referred to by a linkcontained in the search folder.
 46. The system of claim 45 wherein thedatastore resides on a first memory storage coupled to a processingunit, and the first, second, and third user interface elements resideson a second memory storage coupled to a processing unit different thanthe first memory storage coupled to a processing unit.
 47. The system ofclaim 45 wherein the system is further operative to provide a searchuser interface element that indicates to the user that the currentsearch criteria is to be saved as a search folder.
 48. The system ofclaim 45 wherein the system is further operative to provide a MAPIfolder that stores the links.
 49. The system of claim 45 wherein thedatastore contains one or more email data items.
 50. The system of claim45 wherein the system is further operative to provide a fourth userinterface element capable of deleting the search folder and the linkswithout deleting the data items stored in the datastore.
 51. The systemof claim 45 wherein the system is further operative to provide: a searchuser interface element that indicates to the user that the currentsearch criteria is to be saved as a search folder, a MAPI folder thatstores the links, and wherein the datastore contains one or more emaildata items.